The Finance Committee met with representatives of the Library Trustees for further discussion of the FY09 operating budget. The Finance Committee had concerns about the sustainability of hiring three additional people for the library staff. Ultimately, the decision was made to fund one position for a Library Assistant and provide additional funds to extend the hours of the present staff. Many of the current staff work a 35 hour week. The staff can work up to 40 hours...
...without the town paying time and a half. While the Trustees do not have a commitment from the staff to do that, the Finance Committee felt it was preferable to extend those hours or hire temps rather than fund new positions.
The decision on the library funding finished up the Finance Committees review of Schedule A (the budget) for Town Meeting. The Committee voted unanimously to approve.
The Finance Committee was split on whether to fund administration costs from Community Preservation Act monies for an affordable housing program that provides grants for fix up of existing homes . They voted 5-4 not to recommend.
The Town Meeting articles for zoning of business apartments were reviewed after the Town Counsel changes. The vote was to recommend these.
A proposal to include the $1.3 million dollar cost for replacement of the Quinn School windows will be recommended from the floor at Town Meeting. Finance Committee chairman Mr Friedman will meet with the Capital Improvement Planning board to review the numbers on potential savings. The project in contingent upon securing state reimbursement for at least 50% of the cost.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Finance Comittee meeting
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16 comments:
HI! Did any money get to library books?
What is the status on the Library Director's raise?
Yes, the book budget was funded enough to meet certification requirements. I have still not finished my inquiry into the Director's contract situation.
Thanks, keep us posted. Can the library be open Sunday with the additional staff hours?
I have been hearing more and more around town about privatizing the library. How and when will that happen? I sounds like it will save the town a lot of money with no significant changes. We can regain our certification at a later date. We need to save this money!
Bill, you tell people to email you, however you never gave an e mail address. Please let us know. Thanks.
The Dartmouth Private Library. I like the sound of that. Joe Michaud says we can save 40% and get better service. Where's PT Barnum when you need him!
My email address is on the front page of the blog on the left side at the end of the ABOUT ME entry. Email is pokanoketlax@hotmail.com
It seems to me the only suckers are the taxpayers who are paying $1 million dollars for a service that they can have for $6-700,000.
Doesn't the "public" part of "The Dartmouth Public Library" imply that it is open and accessible to the public? If so, what is the big deal if the operation is privatized?
I think there will not be access to SAIls inter-library loan network if it is privatized, no borrowing for the materials our library doesn't have. Libraries are about resource sharing throughout the state. We will also have less librarians with privatization. Do'nt assume there is a $400,000 savings, this needs to be checked and the loss of services may be worth more than $400,000.
If the library is privatized, the certification would be lost for a year or two and then we can apply for certification. At the present time, the library has a waiver. They are not certified. I think the cost savings is worth more to the town/taxpayers esp. when we also have the UMASS library right here.
Southworth has a large children's section. It is usually adults or students who want to borrow books from other libraries. I think it makes sense to forget the certification or get a waiver for a year or two and save $400,000 by privatization. The privatization com. checked with LSSI and these are the numbers. Of course, we would need a firm contract with them regarding exact numbers.
PARENTS, CHILDREN, TEENS CHECK OUT LARGE NUMBERS OF BOOKS FROM OTHER LIBRARIES USING SAILS. MANY RESEARCH ITEMS COME FROM OTHER LIBRARIES, SHARING RESOURCES IS EFFECTIVE AND WHAT IS BEST. SOUTHWORTH DOES NOT HAVE EVERYTHING PEOPLE WANT OR NEED. PARTICIPATION IN SAILS IS CRUCIAL.
I agree. The people who don't use the libraries seem to claim the most expertise. (but I guess I'm just a sucker, as my elected official has labeled me). If privatization is to be a viable option, certification and SAILS must be part of the package.
The certification of the library has nothing to do with who operates it. The problem is with the requirement that the appropriation MUST always increase. See my post here for details.
There are alternatives to SAILS for resource sharing. Also the UMass Dartmouth library is open to the public and can access materials for residents.
Dartmouth is in a fiscal crisis. There is going to have to be sacrifices and if we do not take opportunities to save hundreds of thousands of dollars, we will not resolve our problems.
Bill,
Would a rep from LSSI be willing to give a presentation to the Select Board? I think we should hear from them at a public meeting. Also, why are so many jobs in town only 35 hours with full benefits? The private sector standard is 40hrs. These people are working 12.5% less hours and getting a far more generous benefit package than the typical taxpayer. No wonder we're going broke.
Walter, I can address the LSSI question. I have asked them to do as you describe, but their experience is that when there are basic issues involving privatizing or not privatizing, in general, they have become a public whipping post.
What my group has suggested to the SB is to issue an RFP. Remember that an RFP is non-binding in the sense of go/no go, but is an excellent way to get all the facts out on the table. The service would be clearly defined and anyone interested in bidding would be able to give a clear cost associated with that described service. Until then everyone on both sides is just kicking tires.
LSSI has assured me that if they were the low-bidder they would be very glad to come to a public meeting to describe their operation. This would allow public input and provide enough data for the SB to decide if they want to "close the deal."
The RFP would show a clear consideration from the Town to at least be seriously considering privatizing the library service. Until the service is clearly defined and the costs are in black and white, no one can tell if this is something that we should in fact do.
The SB needs to decide if this path has indications of merit, and if so, move forward with the RFP. I encourage everyone to support the RFP process so we can actually get real and exact information to work with instead of "what ifs."
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